Mark Hawksworth brings Gympie Council to court

A former resident at a caravan park shut down by the council has tried to claim compensation in court.

A man residing at the Gympie Caravan, previously owned by Kemp And Noble, has taken the local council to court.

Mark Hawksworth first moved to the Gympie Caravan Park in 2011 and bought his spot in the park in 2012.

He lived in a van with no wheels that had been concreted into the ground and could not be moved.

The Gympie Council bought the Gympie Caravan Park in 2020 after a controversial health and safety issue with Kemp and Noble was taken to the supreme court.

Mr Hawksworth appeared at the court on Tuesday morning where he made the claim he was unfairly evicted and was owed compensation.

“Why do you think the council owes you money?” Magistrate Chris Callaghan asked Mr Hawksworth.

Andrea Stark represented the Gympie council in court. Photo: Ella Doyle

“I had a home I put a lot of money and effort into and it was my own, I thought, for the future,” Mr Hawksworth replied.

Mr Callaghan asked if there was any contractual agreement between the Gympie council and Mr Hawksworth but he could not respond.

“I was kicked out of that place through no fault of my home and believe I’m entitled to compensation,” Mr Hawksworth told the court.

“I had a place that I believed was to be my home for the next however many years.

“The council just shut the park and kicked everyone out.”

The Council had shut down the park due to breaches with the infrastructure improvement requirements, specifically the bathrooms and kitchens.

“The council is entitled to do that. Even if they wanted to put a football field or build a 20-story building, the council is entitled to do it. It’s their land, is it not?” Mr Callaghan said.

The council’s court representative, Andrea Stark, made no comment throughout the case.

Mr Callaghan dismissed the case due to lack of circumstantial merit and no contractual agreement.